Blink theatre return with Response 3: Reality and Quarry, for two nights at The Old Red Lion theatre, following similar successful runs last year. The evening is split in to two parts, with the first being three short solo plays all focussed on the theme of reality. The second part is a new longer version of Quarry, which itself was a short in a previous version of Response.
Blink Theatre host this regular new writing platform to give an opportunity to nurture emerging writing and actors, and present voices that might not be fully represented. Response 3, produced by Scarlett Johnson is evidence of this, demonstrating diversity and emerging talent in equal measures, all three shorts are directed by Lotte Ruth Johnson, and are well curated to explore reality in different forms.
The evening kicked off with the appropriately titled Reality, written by Jacoba Williams, in which a drama teacher explores the issue of racism. This witty examination of trying to fit in to a world where “people don’t look like me” uses simple analogies to drive the message home. Performer, Ellouise Shakespeare-Hart engages well with the audience, speaking to us as if we were both her students, and confidantes.
Next up was Katherine Hurley’s Tourmaline which was easily the most enjoyable of the three, not least because of the superbly comic performance from Mia Lysandrou. In this short, Lysandrou portrays two characters; one who could have stepped straight out of a Disney movie with her oh so perfect life, and another with a more grounded existence. As Lysandrou jumps between both characters, the reality of their individual situations unravel.
Finally, Dry Feet by Emma Louise Webb, saw the only male performer of the evening take to the stage. Faaiz Mbelizi was bursting with energy and highly engaging, while tackling the reality of homelessness. The piece is effective at luring you down a different path, so that when the truth comes, it has all the more impact.
After a short interval, Rachel Smart’s Quarry took to the stage. Surrounded by boxes symbolising different compartments of her characters life, Tiannah Viechweg delivered a superb monologue as Gemma, the millennial who never quite feels good enough. Making good use of comedy; Gemma is often found hiding in the toilet, and making all manner of awkward faux-pas, highlighting the all too real situation facing many people in today’s hyper-social society.
Blink Theatre have indeed given a voice to new and exciting pieces of theatre, the depth and complexity of Quarry alone demonstrates the importance of this kind of scratch night, to ensure that under-represented communities do have a voice. All three shorts presented have tremendous potential and now have had the opportunity to be seen by an audience in their earliest form.
